Different regions of the brain that are involved in different functions.
Neurons: The basic building blocks of the nervous system, responsible for transmitting electric and chemical signals between cells.
Glia: Non-neuronal cells that support and protect neurons, play a role in neurotransmitter recycling and in the immune response of the brain.
Synapses: The junction between neurons where neurotransmitters are released and neuronal activity is transmitted.
Neurotransmitters: Chemical messengers that are used for communication between neurons at synapses.
Neuroplasticity: The ability of the brain to change its structure and function in response to experience.
Brain development: The process of growth and maturation of the brain during infancy and childhood.
Cerebral cortex: The outermost layer of the brain that is responsible for high-level cognitive function and information processing.
Basal ganglia: A group of subcortical structures that are involved in motor control, reward processing, and habit formation.
Limbic system: A group of interconnected brain regions that are involved in emotion, motivation, and memory.
Brainstem: The region of the brain that connects the spinal cord to the rest of the brain, responsible for maintaining vital functions such as breathing and heart rate.
Cerebellum: A structure located at the back of the brain that is involved in movement control and coordination.
Thalamus: A relay center in the brain that receives sensory information and routes it to appropriate cortical regions.
Hypothalamus: A brain region that largely regulates homeostasis, including body temperature, circadian rhythms, and appetite.
Hippocampus: A brain region involved in the formation and retrieval of episodic memories.
Amygdala: A brain region that is critical for processing emotions such as fear and anger.
Corpus callosum: A large bundle of nerve fibers that connects the two hemispheres of the brain, allowing for communication between them.
Broca's area: A region of the brain essential for speech production.
Wernicke's area: A brain region essential for understanding language.
Prefrontal cortex: The region of the brain involved in executive function, decision making, and social behavior.
Efferent vs. afferent pathways: The pathways that carry signals away from or towards the central nervous system, respectively.
Cerebral cortex: This is the outermost layer of the brain that is responsible for consciousness, perception, and higher-level cognitive functions like memory, language, attention, and decision making.
Basal ganglia: This group of structures plays a crucial role in controlling movement and posture.
Limbic system: This collection of brain regions is responsible for the regulation of emotions, motivation, and memory.
Thalamus: This is a relay station for sensory information entering the brain.
Hypothalamus: This part of the brain regulates the body's internal environment, including temperature, hunger, thirst, and sexual behavior.
Brainstem: This connects the brain with the spinal cord and is responsible for controlling many vital functions such as heart rate, breathing, and consciousness.
Cerebellum: This region of the brain is responsible for fine motor movement, balance, and coordination.
Hippocampus: This is an important region for the formation of long-term memory.
Amygdala: This governs our emotional responses and plays a critical role in fear and anxiety.
Corpus callosum: This is a bundle of nerve fibers that connects the left and right hemispheres of the brain, allowing for communication between them.
Broca's area: This is responsible for language production.
Wernicke's area: This plays a crucial role in language comprehension.